Rhodes
Rhodes is Greece's reliable-sun island: long sandy beaches down the east coast, a medieval walled city that is a proper day out, and a short transfer from the airport. It carries the best-value big-resort beaches in the country, and its all-inclusives line the east coast from Faliraki and Kolymbia down through Lindos to Kiotari and Lardos. The Aegean wind is a real feature here, so the west-facing side is for windsurfers rather than for lilos, and the east coast is where you book.
- Airport
- Rhodes Diagoras (RHO), most resorts 20–60 min down the east coast
- The coast
- East for sand and calm: Faliraki, Kolymbia, Lindos, Kiotari, Lardos
- Best for
- Value big-resort beaches, a medieval city, reliable sun
- Season
- May–October
- June and September are the sweet spots
- Weather risk
- None tropical
- dry summers with the meltemi wind
When to go to Rhodes
Climate normals for Rhodes, and our verdict on each month.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | 59 degrees Fahrenheit | 60 degrees Fahrenheit | 63 degrees Fahrenheit | 69 degrees Fahrenheit | 76 degrees Fahrenheit | 83 degrees Fahrenheit | 87 degrees Fahrenheit | 88 degrees Fahrenheit | 83 degrees Fahrenheit | 76 degrees Fahrenheit | 68 degrees Fahrenheit | 62 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Rainfall | 5.9″ | 4.3″ | 3″ | 1″ | 0.5″ | 0.1″ | 0″ | 0″ | 0.3″ | 2.7″ | 3.9″ | 6.1″ |
| Verdict | Off-peak | Off-peak | Shoulder | Good | Good | Prime | Good | Good | Prime | Shoulder | Shoulder | Off-peak |
Sweet spot. June and September; July–August is hottest, busiest and windiest; rainy season runs November–February.
Storm risk. No tropical systems: dry Aegean summers with the meltemi wind, and among the most sunshine hours in Greece.
Figures are long-term climate normals for Rhodes, good for planning. They are not a forecast.
Where on the east coast?
The coast reads south from the airport and the town. Ixia and Ialyssos, on the west side of the town, are the windsurfing beaches and the shortest transfer, with the wind to match. Faliraki is the first big resort beach on the east, sandy and lively, twenty minutes from the airport. Kolymbia and Afandou are calmer and greener. Lindos, an hour south, is the postcard: the whitewashed village, the acropolis on its rock, and small bays either side. Kiotari and Lardos beyond it are the quiet south, with long beaches and the newest resorts.
Pick Faliraki for a short transfer and nightlife, Kolymbia for calm, Lindos for the view and the day trips, and the south for space.
When to go
May to October, with June and September the sweet spots: warm sea, full sun and room on the beach. July and August are hottest and busiest, and the meltemi wind blows hardest then, which keeps the heat bearable on the east coast and makes the west coast a windsurfing venue. Rhodes has more sunshine hours than almost anywhere in Greece, which is the whole argument for it.
Beyond the resort
The medieval old town of Rhodes is a UNESCO site and the best day out on the island: the Street of the Knights, the Palace of the Grand Master and the walls. Lindos and its acropolis are the other essential, best early in the morning before the coaches. Beyond those, the Valley of the Butterflies inland, Kallithea's restored springs near Faliraki, and the boat to Symi for a day of pastel harbourside houses.
Where the Rhodes resorts are
9 resorts mapped stars are five-star properties
The best all-inclusive resorts in Rhodes
The Rhodes properties we would actually book. For the full numbered ranking, see the best all-inclusive resorts in Rhodes.
Resort chains in Rhodes
The brands operating here. The ones we rank in full link through to the chain, what its plan really covers, and every resort of theirs we track.
Rhodes, head to head
Price, flights, sand, food and safety, compared honestly.
Rhodes vs JamaicaMexicoDominican RepublicMaldivesSpainTurks & CaicosArubaBarbadosSt. LuciaItalyPortugalTurkeyAntiguaCuraçaoBrazilCosta RicaPhilippinesFrench PolynesiaMoroccoEgyptSouth AfricaMauritiusKenyaTanzaniaMozambiqueThailandIndonesiaMalaysiaPunta CanaCancúnRiviera MayaLos CabosPuerto VallartaMontego BayNegrilOcho RiosGuanacasteCreteBahiaBora BoraMalé AtollsRodney BayBarbados South CoastBarbados West CoastViti LevuVanua LevuCanary IslandsBalearic IslandsCosta del SolSharm el-SheikhHurghada & the Red Sea CoastBelekFijiCroatiaU.S. Virgin IslandsSri LankaSeychellesBahamasChileArgentinaUnited States
Reading on Rhodes
- GuideKids' club ages, decoded: the fine print under "family-friendly"Most kids' clubs start at four, which is news to every parent of a toddler who booked around one. Drop-off ages, potty rules, the 11-to-13 dead zone, and the questions to email before you book.July 12, 2026 · 5 min read
- GuideThe girlfriends' trip playbookHow to pick an all-inclusive a whole group will love: the room math, the vibe question, and the conversations to have before anyone puts down a deposit.July 9, 2026 · 3 min read
Frequently asked questions
Is Rhodes or Crete better for an all-inclusive?
Rhodes for the best-value big-resort beaches, a short transfer and the most reliable sun; Crete for the deepest choice, the food, and a longer season at both ends. Both have a medieval or Venetian old town worth a day. Our ranking below orders every Rhodes resort in our catalog by real guest data.
Is Rhodes windy?
Yes, especially in July and August when the meltemi blows. The east coast, where the resorts are, is sheltered enough for the beach; the west coast around Ixia is the windsurfing side. It is a feature to plan around rather than a reason to avoid the island.